And yet, none of these statistics seem to move the needle on this issue the way they should. Work flex advocates have been citing them for literally decades, with only incremental progress—and often one step back for every two steps forward.

Because what we need most of all in order for change to happen is for workers themselves to speak up. All the statistics in the world can’t make change if people aren’t talking about what they need, asking for it—and even clamoring for it.

And that’s where moms come in.

I’m not a mom, and so I’m especially aware of the fact that work flexibility is not just for moms. But, I have a mom, and my friends are moms, and my colleagues are moms. And I’m not alone in that; in fact, it’d be pretty tricky to find anyone who can’t say the same. We don’t need to be moms to be able to relate to moms, and to care about what moms need.

We all need moms speaking out about the fact that juggling parenthood and career without flexibility is impossible. We all need moms speaking out about the fact that employers can’t pretend they are still in the “Mad Men era,” and demanding that the workplace catch up to modern workforce demographics.

So to all the moms out there: don’t stay silent about what you need to be successful both at work and at home. Share your stories wherever you can with anyone and everyone who will listen, and add your voice to the choir calling for change.

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